Ugandan Officers Killed by 'Congo' Troops

Gunmen killed four Ugandan policemen on a lake bordering Democratic Republic of Congo, an officer said Monday, blaming Congolese troops for the shooting.

The Ugandan police officers were in a patrol boat investigating reports of illegal fishing on Lake Albert on Saturday when gunmen opened fire.

"Four of our officers were shot and killed by the DRC army on Saturday night while responding to a call of illegal fishing," regional police chief Denis Namuwoza said. "The DRC troops confiscated our boat."

It was not possible to verify who the gunmen were and authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment.

Tensions have risen between security forces along the lake in recent years, with each side detaining soldiers and police from the other, Uganda's Daily Monitor said.